TAMBOPATA
RIVER EXPEDITIONPERU 2009
TAMBOPATA
RIVER EXPEDITION
PERU
2009
(updated 4 June 2008)
(FILLED)
Sun. July 12:
Welcome to Cuzco, Peru! It
is the oldest continually inhabited town in the Western Hemisphere. It was the capital of the Inca Empire, and the center of
Spanish Colonial power under Pizzaro and his Conquistadors. Evidence of both cultures abounds in this city that has
changed so little over hundreds of years. You
will be staying at one of the finest hotels in Cuzco.
To reduce the risk of altitude sickness, it is extremely important that
you have four hours of quiet bed rest immediately upon arriving at your hotel;
the remainder of the day should be spent in non-strenuous activities.
HOTEL: (CUZCO)
Mon.
July 13:
On the Plaza de Armas there is the Cathedral and 3 other churches;
as well as shops, restaurants and bars occupying historic buildings, it is the
heart of the city; just as it was in the time of the Incas. The rainbow flag of
the ancient empire is flown everywhere. The Cathedral took over 100 years to
construct. Not only is it Cuzco’s main church, it is the city’s greatest
repository of Colonial art. There are hundreds of canvases. There is a
crucifixion attributed to Van Dyck – and a painting of the Last Supper that
depicts the Inca delicacy cuy (roast guinea pig) as part of the meal.
There is a silver altar and a magnificently carved chair. Running off of the
plaza is Loreto Street, with Inca walls along both sides; behind one was the
“House of Chosen Women” in which lived the Virgins of the Sun. The street
has the famous 12-sided stone as part of its ancient wall. This is the ruin of
the Coricancha, or Temple of the Sun. The walls were originally covered with
some 700 solid gold sheets. The courtyard front was covered with 120 pounds of
gold. This afternoon, a private vehicle,
driver and professional, English-speaking guide will take you to the following 4
most important Inca ruins near Cuzco: The huge Sacsayhuamán is the most
impressive in the area; with stones of over 300 tons. This great fortress
overlooking the city was retaken after the conquest by Manco Inca who was almost
successful in defeating the invaders. Qenko is a large limestone rock covered
with symbolic carving, and a mysterious cave with altars in the rock. Ritual
sacrifices were believed to have been held here. You will see the small site of
Puca Pucara and then Tambo Machay, ancient baths where the water is brought
through stone pipes from miles away.
HOTEL: (CUZCO)
Tue.
July 14:
We will take a first-class bus; with all meals provided and served
aboard, for 6 hours; across the altiplano (the high plain between
glaciated ridges) through some of the most dramatic scenery in the Andes, to
Juliaca, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. At
15,480’ it is the highest navigable body of water in the world.
On the other side rise the high white peaks of Bolivia.
A private vehicle with our state-of-the-art, self-bailing rafts,
paddles, vests, and helmets and other safety equipment will take us over a pass
at 15,000’ then down to the mighty
Tambopata River in the Amazon basin.
Our experienced, English-speaking guides and captains are known and
respected throughout the world of whitewater rafting. (All meals, tents, and campsites will be prepared for us from
leaving Cuzco until leaving the river.)
CAMP: (RIO TAMPBOPATA)
Wed.
July 15:
This morning villagers will come to watch us put in.
From here, the river will be our highway into the tropical rainforest,
a habitat for 8 species of macaws, 13 species of monkeys, 530 species of birds,
and hundreds of other wild animals. We
will camp on sandy beaches along the way. Today
we will be running introductory-type rapids.
CAMP: (RIO TAMBOPATA)
Thurs. July 16:
More introductory rapids as we leave all signs of civilization behind and
enter the magic of the pristine jungle.
CAMP: (RIO TAMBOPATA)
Fri. July 17:
The flora and fauna change dramatically as we start running good,
exciting class III
& IV
rapids. NOTE: IF THERE HAS BEEN UNSEASONABLY HIGH RAINFALL, THE DEGREE OF
RISK AND CLASS RATING WILL INCREASE. Our
guides will decide when and where to stop or continue.
CAMP: (RIO TAMBOPATA)
Sat. July 18:
More class III &
IV (or higher) rapids.
Some nights we might camp on the Bolivian side, with no concerns about
immigrations or customs.
CAMP: (RIO TAMBOPATA)
Sun. July 19:
Leaving the mountains behind, we will approach the Amazon Plain and cross
the Candamo Wildlife Reserve. Rarely
visited because of inaccessibility, it is the habitat of tapirs, capybaras,
ocelots, jaguars, giant river otters, and hundreds of species of tropical birds.
As there has been no hunting impact, the animals are not very afraid of
humans. It is a truly a
photographer’s paradise!
CAMP: (RIO TAMBOPATA)
Mon. July 20:
We continue through the undisturbed region, until we arrive at a place
made famous by the National Geographic cover feature of January 1994:
“The Colpa of the Macaws”.
CAMP: (RIO TAMBOPATA)
Tue. July 21:
At dawn, we will watch a unique natural phenomenon:
Thousands of beautiful, brilliantly colored macaws converge on one
specific spot on the river to feed on a mineral in the clay.
From there we will continue downriver in dugouts, with motors, to the
frontier town of Puerto Maldonado, the site of intermittent gold rush.
Traditionally, the river rafters, the guides and captains get together
for a farewell dinner party at our hotel; a wild occasion.
HOTEL: (PUERTO MALDONADO)
Wed. July 22:
MORNING FLIGHT, PUERTO MALDONADO TO CUZCO.
A day to rest, relax and enjoy the
unique city.
HOTEL: (CUZCO)
Thurs. July 23: We will take the early morning train, that follows the mighty Urubamba river.
”I had entered the marvelous canyon of Urubamba… in the variety of its charms and the power of its spell, I know of no place in the world which can compare with it. Not only has it great snow peaks looming above the clouds more than two miles overhead, gigantic precipices of many colored granite rising sheer for thousands of feet above the foaming, glistening, roaring rapids, it has also, in striking contrast, orchids and tree ferns, the delectable beauty of luxurious vegetation, and the mysterious witchery of the jungle.”
Hiram Bingham
Re-discoverer of Machu Picchu, Lost City of the Incas
At Aguas Calientes, Machu Picchu stands high above us, on gigantic
cliffs.
HOTEL: (AGUAS CALIENTES)
Fri.
July 24:
If you get up early; before the local trains and the huge crowds arrive,
you will have quite an experience: Machu Picchu, “The Lost City of the
Incas”! The extensive ruins of
this ancient city, perched in the clouds thousands of feet above the ox-bow of a
roaring river, may well be the most dramatic combination that man and nature
have ever produced. Transport
and admission to the ruins will be provided.
HOTEL: (AGUAS CALIENTES)
Sat.
July 25:
Early morning train to the ancient Inca village of Ollantaytambo.
Ruins cover the slopes up from the old plaza.
Many stone houses and a system of running water date from before the
conquest. Our lodge is a walled hacienda with gardens and views of the
white peaks.
LODGES: (OLLANTAYTAMBO)
Sun.
July 26: This
morning our private vehicle will pick us up at our lodge. We will visit the hacienda of the famous potter Pablo
Seminario, who will give us a tour of his extensive studio.
His work is internationally famous and is owned by Gloria Estefan and
Leonardo DiCaprio. We
will also stop at the beautifully sited town of Chinchero.
The extremely bizarre film, “The Last Movie,” with Dennis
Hopper, was shot here. It won the
Palme d’Oro at Cannes. After
dropping down into the valley of Cuzco, we return to our hotel.
Tonight
there is bound to be a celebration; probably a party that will include “La
Yunta”, a wonderful small restaurant favored by backpackers, students and
archaeologists; and “Cross Keys”, the hideout of international adventurers
of every type.
HOTEL: (CUZCO)
Total cost of $2,960.00 ($3,167.00, effective Friday, June 6 for new participants) per person, double occupancy; includes all hotel and lodge stays; private tour of 4 ruins; first-class bus with all meals, Cuzco to Juliaca; private vehicles for all overland transport; state-of-the-art, self-bailing rafts, paddles and all safety equipment; double-occupancy sleeping tents, kitchen, dining and latrine tents, and the services of professional English-speaking river guides; all meals, Juliaca to Puerto Maldonado; airfares, Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco flight; all train fares; transport and one-day admission fees to the ruins at Machu Picchu; and, tour of Pablo Seminario’s studio.
An initial payment of $1,480.00, payable to W.S. DONAHOO, and received at:
is required for reservations.
AVAILABLE SPACES ARE STRICTLY LIMITED TO 18 PARTICIPANTS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED BASIS, UPON RECEIPT OF DEPOSITS.
All payments are non-refundable, and are not transferable to other passengers nor other trips.
Final, non-refundable payments will be due in April, 2009. Failure to pay on time will result in the cancellation of your reservation and forfeiture of your initial payment.
Items in italics are not included, but are suggestions based on location and time available. Airfares for flights not specifically noted, taxes at foreign airports, and gratuities are not included.
Passports, valid for 6 months after the duration of the trip, will be required.
Buz Donahoo, Condor
Adventures
Post Office Box 3415
Winter Park, FL 32790, USA
Tel/Fax (407) 645-0490
buz@condoradventures.com